Category: News

Political Activist Ali Moeini Remains Detained in Isfahan

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Freedom of Expression, News
Ali Moeini, HRANA, Isfahan, علی معینی

Despite 17 days having passed since his arrest, Ali Moeini, a political activist residing in Isfahan, remains in indefinite detention. The lack of information regarding his condition has heightened concerns among his family.

A source confirmed to HRANA: “Despite 17 days having passed since Mr. Moeini’s arrest and his family’s repeated follow-ups with judicial authorities, the relevant officials continue to refrain from providing a clear response regarding his situation. This has escalated the concerns of his family and close associates. Two days ago, he was only able to confirm his well-being in a brief phone call.”

Mr. Moeini has been denied access to a lawyer during his detention.

This political activist was arrested on August 10, 2023, in Isfahan.

So far, no information has been obtained regarding the reasons for his arrest, his place of detention, or the charges against him. Ali Moeini, who has a history of legal confrontations due to his activism, is married and the father of a three-year-old child.

Matin Hasani Sent to Bukan Prison to Serve His Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Bukan, Bukan Prison, Matin Hasani, Matin Hassani

Today, August 26, 2024, Matin Hasani (Hassani), injured during the November 2019 protests, was sent to Bukan Prison to serve his sentence.

Mr. Hasani, who was injured during the November 2019 protests, was sentenced to 31 months in prison by the 101st Branch of the Criminal Court 2 of Bukan in July of this year.

On January 23, 2024, Hasani was arrested by security forces at his family home without a court order. He was released on bail from Bukan Prison on February 22, 2024.

His trial was held on May 16, 2024, in the 101st Branch of the Criminal Court 2 of Bukan, where he was charged with “inciting warfare and violence to disrupt national security, as well as propaganda against the regime.”

Hasani lost the sight in one of his eyes at the age of 19 when he was shot during the nationwide protests in Bukan in November 2019.

Political Prisoner Zia Nabavi Faces News Charges for Reporting the Presence of Bedbugs in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, Iman Afshari, Zia Nabavi

Zia Nabavi, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been faced with a new legal case initiated in connection with Nabavi’s reports about the presence of bedbugs in Ward 8 of Evin Prison, Shargh Newspaper reports.

Amir Raeisian, Mr. Nabavi’s lawyer, stated, “Following the publication of Zia Nabavi’s note about the presence of bedbugs in Evin Prison, he was summoned to Branch 7 of the Prosecutor’s Office and was charged with spreading false information.”

The lawyer added that Mr. Nabavi’s case was then referred to the 1207th Branch of the Criminal Court with an indictment. The court session for this case is scheduled to be held on August 28, 2024, in the mentioned branch.

In May of this year, Zia Nabavi wrote a letter addressing the rampant presence of bedbugs in Ward 8 of Evin Prison.

Later, on May 19, 2024, this political prisoner was punitively transferred to solitary confinement and was eventually returned to Ward 8 of Evin Prison a week later, on May 25, 2024.

In August 2023, Zia Nabavi was sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, on charges of “propaganda against the regime.” This sentence was later upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. The case was opened against Nabavi following his protest against the serial poisoning of school students.

Nabavi started serving his sentence in EvinPrison on April 6, 2024. He has a history of arrests and legal confrontations due to his activism.

Attorney Mehdi Shakibafar Sent to Saveh Prison to Serve His Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Karaj, Markazi Province, Mehdi Shakibafar, Saveh, مهدی شکیبافر

Today, August 26, 2024, Mehdi Shakibafar, an attorney, was sent to Saveh Prison to serve his sentence.

Shakibafar announced that he was leaving his mother’s home in Karaj on his birthday to report to the Enforcement of Judgments Office in Saveh to begin serving his prison term.

Previously, Shakibafar was sentenced by Branch 9 of the Court of Appeals in Markazi Province to 15 months and one day in prison for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” seven months and 16 days for “propaganda against the regime,” and one year for “spreading falsehoods,” 11 months of which was suspended for five years. Additionally, he was sentenced to 21 months of disqualification from practicing law as supplementary punishment.

Initially, Shakibafar was acquitted of the charges in the preliminary court. However, following an appeal by the prosecutor, who argued that “his acquittal would embolden him further,” the case was re-examined.

A Prisoner Executed in Nahavand Prison

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Executions, News
Hamadan province, Nahavand, Vahid Abbasi

On Thursday, August 22, a prisoner, previously sentenced to death on murder charges, was executed in Nahavand Prison, Hamadan province, as reported by Iran Human Rights Organization.

The prisoner has been identified as “Vahid Abbasi, 33 years old and a resident of Nahavand.”

The report cites a source stating that Mr. Abbasi was arrested three years ago on murder charges and was later sentenced to death by the judiciary.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

According to the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2023, at least 767 citizens, including 21 women and 2 juvenile offenders, were executed. Of these, the executions of 7 individuals were carried out in public. Additionally, during this period, 172 others were sentenced to death, with 5 of them sentenced to public execution. It is worth noting that during the same period, the initial death sentences of 49 other individuals were also upheld by the Supreme Court.

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Singer Behrad Ali Kanari Sent to Prison to Serve His Sentence

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Freedom of Expression, News
Behrad Ali Kanari, Central Prison of Karaj, Karaj, Qom prison, Ruhollah Ajamian

Behrad Ali Kanari, arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022, has been jailed in Qom Prison.on Saturday, August 24, 2024, to start serving a six-month prison term.

In a video message, Mr. Ali Kanari announced that he was recently sentenced to six months in prison by the judiciary on charges of “propaganda against the regime through cooperation with anti-regime media.” On Saturday, August 24, 2024, he was sent to Qom Prison to serve his sentence.
Kanari was arrested by security forces on May 13 of this year and was released shortly afterward on bail.
Behrad Ali Kanari, a singer, was among those arrested during the 2022 nationwide protests in the case known as the “murder of Basij member Ruhollah Ajamian.” He was released from the Central Prison of Karaj in April of 2023, following the issuance of a “pardon” directive.

A Prisoner Executed in Tabriz Prison for Drug Offenses

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Executions, News
Khaled Jahangiri, Tabriz, Tabriz Prison

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, the execution of a prisoner previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges was carried out in Tabriz Prison, as reported by Kurdpa.

The identity of the prisoner has been reported as Khaled Jahangiri, a resident of the village of “Balu” in the Urmia region, and a father of three children.

According to this report, Mr. Jahangiri was arrested about five years ago on drug-related charges and was sentenced to death by the judicial authorities.

As of the time of this report, the execution has not been officially announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

The reports from the Department of Statistics and Publication of Human Rights Activists for the year 2023 reveal a concerning prevalence of executions for drug offenses in Iran, constituting 56.4% of the total executions. For a comprehensive examination of the details and statistics surrounding the executions in Iran, refer to HRANA’s report.

Elham Ostadi Sentenced to One Year in Prison

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Freedom of Expression, News
Chabahar, Ebrahim Kouchakzai, Elham Ostadi, Iranshahr, Zahedan, Zahedan Revolutionary Court

The Revolutionary Court of Zahedan sentenced Elham Ostadi, a resident of Iranshahr, to one year in prison, according to Resanak.

Branch Two of the Zahedan Revolutionary Court issued the sentence, convicting her of “propaganda against the regime.”

The charges against Ostadi stem from her Instagram posts, where she protested the rape of a 15-year-old girl by the former police chief of Chabahar.

Elham Ostadi, a 30-year-old resident of Iranshahr, was arrested by security forces in August of 2023. She was released on bail on September 2, 2022, after posting a 200-million-toman bond (approximately 4000 dollars).

The report also mentioned that Ostadi had previously been fined for “disturbing public opinion” in a separate case.

Local sources had earlier reported that on September 1, 2022, Ebrahim Kouchakzai, the police chief of Chabahar, lured a 15-year-old girl to his private quarters under the pretext of interrogation and raped her. This incident sparked protests across Sistan and Baluchestan province.

In February of 2022, the judiciary announced that Kouchakzai had been convicted by the Military Court of Sistan and Baluchestan for the rape of the 15-year-old girl in the village of Sedighzahi. He was sentenced to imprisonment and dismissed from public service.

Detention Order for Baha’i Citizen Nahid Behroozi Extended

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Alborz province, Baha'i citizen, HRANA, Kachooie Prison, Nahid Behroozi

Nahid Behroozi (Forouhari), a Baha’i citizen, remains in a state of uncertainty in Kachooie Prison, Karaj, 26 days after her arrest. Today, her detention order was extended for another week.

A source close to Behroozi’s family confirmed to HRANA: “Today, Ms. Behroozi’s detention order was extended for another week. Despite 25 days having passed since her arrest, she remains in a state of uncertainty in Kachooie Prison, Karaj.”
This Baha’i citizen was transferred to Kachooie Prison, Karaj, on August 15th after completing interrogation at The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility.

Behroozi was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence agents at her home in Fardis, Alborz province, on Monday, July 29, 2024.

The reasons for Behroozi’s arrest and the charges against her remain unknown.

Mazaher Heydari Continues Hunger Strike in Shahr-e Kord Prison

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News, Prisoners, Religious Minorities
Gonabadi Dervish, HRANA, Mazaher Heydari, Shahr-e Kord, Shahrekord, مظاهر حیدری

Mazaher Heydari, a Gonabadi Dervish currently imprisoned in Shahr-e Kord, has been on a hunger strike for over 12 days and has been denied the right to make phone calls to his family.

A source close to Heydari’s family confirmed to HRANA, “Mr. Heydari began his hunger strike on Saturday, August 10, in protest against the 40-month prison sentence issued against him. Since then, the authorities have deprived him of phone calls to his family, and in protest, he has sewn his lips shut.”

In June of this year, Heydari was arrested by security forces in Shahr-e Kord and later transferred to the city’s prison. That same month, he was sentenced in absentia by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Shahr-e Kord, presided over by Judge Balanian, to a total of 40 months in prison on charges of “disturbing public opinion,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “assembly and collusion against national security.” Under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe sentence, 32 months in prison, will be enforced.

Mazaher Heydari has previously faced legal actions due to his activities.

The Gonabadi Dervishes (Darvishes) are members of a Sufi Muslim community in Iran, known for their spiritual practices and emphasis on mysticism. Despite their peaceful beliefs, the Gonabadi Dervishes have faced increasing persecution by the Iranian regime, which views their independence and religious practices as a threat to the state’s control over religious expression. Over the years, many members of this community have been subjected to arrests, imprisonment, and harassment, with their leaders often targeted by the authorities.